Miller and Oden... who'd a thunk it?

This is exactly why I've been saying that I wish Roy would develop a post game ala Michael Jordan or Kobe. If Roy could take his man into the post, it would equalize the size mismatch on defense.

 

I 100% Agree. I think some of it is Nate not ever having a dominate force down low, playing or coaching. It's very new to him and he's starting to understand it more and more. A team like GS, plays against the team that played last night would literally crush that team.

Patience is the next key for our success. So what if their guards are scoring at will in the first two quarters. I would just come right back and pound the ball into the post, or post up all their guards over and over again.

Remember those players played 48 minutes. If they had to play all 48 minutes on both ends of the court, by the time 4th comes around, they will be winded and easy to manage. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

 

Or, probably not.

Shaq averaged 29ppg/11.5rpg in the Finals season with Hardaway.

Unless some or you are saying that Andre Miller can become Penny Hardaway, I have no clue what this thread is about.

Did I miss Roy putting up Penny-like numbers last night? Miller had a nice little game too. He assisted on 1 Oden basket.

 

Where did you get that he prefers Miller to Blake? Are you putting words into Oden's mouth and deriving intent from something he didn't say? If so, it would appear that Oden is blasting Roy, since Roy handles the ball more with Miller out of the line-up.

The Steve Blake '08 comment was a tell, btw, of your real intent for your post.

 

What is obvious? I don't see him saying he's been frustrated by the other guards.

 

Miller is very nice for this team, as long as it is remembered where he fits in the hierarchy. He is a complementary piece, on a short-term basis due to his age. As long as we do not take away from Roy to accommodate Miller, it's a win-win. Sure, it is nice that he helps Greg develop. But, the goal, long term, is to get Roy, LMA and Oden synchronized.

Miller has been averaging 10 shots per game (3rd on the team) until the 2nd starting unit change happened. This is not a good idea when he is #10 on the team in TS% (or was, before last night, did not check it yet). In the last 2 games, he took 3 and 6 shots (that's 9 for both games). When this happens - he is a net positive. It's as simple as this. Add the fact that Roy seems to be back to being himself, driving hard into the post - and Miller, as he has played in the last 2 games is great. Which comes to show that Nate had a pretty good idea what he was doing.

 

If Miller can accept this role, he seems perfectly suited to come off of the bench and stop the 2nd quarter droughts that the Blazers have seen since Outlaw got injured.

I just want everybody to play well, and if Miller is in at the end of games and producing, that's a huge plus for this team.

 

Does anyone have or can get the stat of how many assists Blake has with Oden vs. Miller and Oden.

Blake constantly gets abused on this board as being unable to get the ball to Oden. Everytime I read taht and then watch the game, iIm watcvhing Blake get the ball to Oden . . . I don't know who does it better, but the statemment that Blake is incapable of feeding the post is flat our wrong.

And I agree with papag, Oden is not advocatiing for Miller to start . . . unlike Roy who was very clear on his statements.

 

You should change your name to Devils Advocate.

I think it's pretty telling from his "breath of fresh air" statement about Miller. If Miller is a "breath of fresh air," what does that make Roy and Blake?

 

You just made it clear to me.

Oden vs. Roy for control of the team! It's obvious, according to the interpretations of some in this thread. Roy can't handle Miller; Oden is "frustrated" by everybody but Milller. The Shaq/Kobe feud of the next decade!

 

You do? I wonder if you aren't trying to start a pseudo-feud between Oden and Roy.

Is Roy "stale air" to Oden at this point? I'd be interested to get Oden's take on this, since you seem to have set the shit-stirring template. Trying to divide the team's two superstars before they even win a playoff series. Well done, "fan".

 

So you think Oden thinks Miller is a breath of fresh air statement is a negative statement on Roy and Blake . . . you are reading way too much into that statement, IMO.

 

How many times last season did we see Oden standing by himself under the hoop, waiving his arms? Our guards showed an obvious inability for getting Oden the ball in scoring position. That includes Blake, that includes Roy, and that includes Sergio. Rudy was about the only guy who actually made an effort to feed Oden.

Now we have a point guard who makes a point of setting Oden up in the paint. Tries to get him in scoring position. Oden said Miller is a "breath of fresh air." Those were his words, not mine.

 

I think anyone feeding Oden the ball is a "breath of fresh air" for the big guy.

 

And you think Miller is the only one feeding Oden the ball?

 

In the previous game Greg was assisted twice by Brandon and 4 times by Steve. (We are ignoring whatever other passes that he missed, turned-over or reversed back out of a double team).

I think it was more a reference to the encouragement from Miller - which is a nice thing to do, for a veteran PG, it's probably more of a "someone saw I had some problems and suggested how to fix them" thing, rather than a "someone finally passed me the ball".

For the record - I am going by the play by play transcript here - http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=291121022 for the assists.

 

You can interpret his quote however you like. I interpret it to mean that Oden feels like Miller is lookin out for him. Getting him the ball in scoring position. Trying to put him in a position to succeed.

Last night the whole team was getting Oden involved, which is great, but that hasn't been the case for the last year or so. Oden was expressing his gratitude towards Miller.

 

Sorry, beat ya to it:

http://sportstwo.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2181361&postcount=19

 

So if anyone feeding Oden the ball is a "breath of fresh air" for the big guy and whole team was getting Oden involved, he must feel likethe whole team is a breath of fresh air.


I joke because I'm not taking this too seriously. I get that we will all interpet his comments differently and that's fair. I'm glad you see it is not just Miller who is feeding GO these days . . .